Introduction: The project focuses on the global & regional threats to coastal marine ecosystem services & functions & species' responses to the interaction of stressors under climate change. The alteration in structural connectivity among estuaries, estuarine wetlands & freshwater habitats will influence the ability of marine-estuarine species to access crucial juvenile habitats. Ontogenetic and trophic shifts are important functions.

Methods: We address the impact of ocean acidification and elevated temperature and the interaction of these parameters on fin fish species from tropical coastal Australia through laboratory experiments that examine phenology and physiology. Finfish species to be examined are Lates calcarifer, Lutjanus argentimaculatus and Plectropomus leopardus. Remote sensing of coastal environments is used to provide quantitative assessments of species and vegetation biomass dynamics and ecosystem functions to inform systematic conservation planning.

Results: The investigation will be developed under a decision theory framework & encompass mechanistic and climate impact modelling & synthesis using spatial prioritization tools, the Marxan and Zonation suites.

Discussion:  Surface ocean acidification measurements of the open ocean and species’ responses differ to those in shallow coastal ecosystems and it’s these ecosystems that have lacked consideration. This project contributes to filling this knowledge gap.